Ricketts family played hardball

August 25, 2009|By TRIBUNE

After months of negotiations to buy the Cubs, the Ricketts family threw a curveball at Tribune Co. last month, according to court documents disclosed Monday. The family gave the company an ultimatum: Complete a deal within a few weeks or it will walk away.

The competition to buy the Cubs is described in court documents Tribune Co. filed late Monday in connection with an agreement announced Friday to turn over controlling interest in the franchise to the Ricketts family in a deal valued at $845 million.